A delegation of the Working Group of the U.N. Human Rights Council on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice was welcomed yesterday by Peruvian Foreign Minister Gonzalo Gutierrez as part of its visit to the Andean country.
This way, the said expert group undertakes its first official visit to the Andean nation from 11 to 19 September 2014 to assess the progress made towards achieving gender equality and the protection and promotion of women’s human rights.
During its nine-day stay, the delegation, comprised of Frances Raday and Alda Facio, will meet national and local government officials, representatives of civil society organizations, as well as experts and academics.
“The Working Group is particularly interested in legislative reforms and policies that have been implemented by the Government of Peru to promote women's rights and gender equality,” said human rights expert Frances Raday, who currently heads the expert group.
“We will pay specific attention to women’s rights in the family and in the cultural life, looking at achievements and good practices to eliminate discrimination against women in all aspects of family life,” she added.
Furthermore, the delegation will be looking at aspects of law and practice which affect women’s reproductive health as well as their access to justice, education, social services and labor.
In addition to Lima, Raday and Facio will visit Ayacucho to gather first-hand information on issues related to discrimination against women in various contexts, including indigenous women and women in rural areas.
A press conference to share the delegation’s preliminary findings will be held Friday 19 September 2014 at noon in Complejo Javier Pérez de Cuellar, Casa de Naciones Unidas in Lima.
Following its visit, the Working Group will present a report with its conclusions and recommendations to the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2015.
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Published: 9/14/2014